Bottled beverage dispensing apparatus



March 12,' 1940.

C. A. ROPP BOTTLED BEVERAGE DIsPENsING APPARATUS LFiled April 17. 1957 4sheets-snapt 1l INVENTQR. C//f TER ROPP BY ,(0

ATTORNEY.

C. A. ROPP BOTTLED BEVERAGE DlISPENSINGr APPARATUS Marh 12, 1940f 4Sheets-Sheet 2 rFiled April 17, 1937 INVENT OR. c//fs 729,@ fi. A20/0p9(214. Ww

ATTORNEY.

Marchmlz, 1940. c, A, RQPP I 2,193,239

BOTTLED BEVERAGE DISPESING APPARATUS Filed April 17, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet5 ATTORNEY.

March 12, 1940. C. A. ROPP 2,193,239 I BOTTLED BEVERAGE DISPENSINGAPPA'ATus Filed April 17, -1937 4 sheets-sheet 4 Patented Mar. 12, 194i]Mrap BOTTLED BEVERAGE 'DISPENSING APPARATUS Chester A. Ropp,Bloomington, Ill., assignor to Williams Oil-O-Matic Heating Corporation,

Bloomington, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application April 17,r1937, Serial No. 137,460

ll Claim.

This invention relates to improvements in dispensing apparatus and moreparticularly to an improved device of this character for cooling and4dispensingl bottled beverages or other bottled goods.

It is an object of this invention to provide a closed cabinet forcontaining, and cooling if desired, bottled goods contained in bottlesof uniform size so arranged therein as to be successively removable uponthe depositing of a coin to release a manually operable closure to allowthe removal of a bottle. y

With these and other objects in view, reference is made to theaccompanying sheets of drawings which illustrate a preferred form ofthis invention, with'the understanding that detail changes may be madewithout departing from the scope thereof.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a preferred form of cabinet anddispensing apparatus constructed in. accordance with this invention.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary view in central vertical section taken on theline 2 2, Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows, showing giedispensing apparatus and bottles in eleva- Figure 3 is an enlargeddetailview in vertical section of the dispensing apparatus taken on theline 3 3, Figure 1, with the exterior cover for the dispensing openingremoved.

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary top plan view of the cover of Figure1 mounting the coincontrolled operating mechanism, with parts brokenaway.

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary detailplan view of the operatingmechanism shown in Figure 4, with parts broken away, partly in sectionand with parts removed, illustrating the position assumed by theelements after the mechanism has operated to allow the removal of abottle and the stepbystep movement is in locked position.

Figure 6 is a view partly in elevation and partly in section of Figure5, with parts removed, and indicated in dot and dash lines.

Figure l is a view similar to Figure 5 illustrating in full lines theposition assumed by the elements of the step-by-.step mechanism when theoperating handle has been released and rotated to the left to allow themovement dog to be retracted and in dotted lines the position assumed bythe mechanism in reciprocating the movement dog to be in position toimpart the next movement step upon further rotation of the handle to theright.

Figure 8 is a view in elevation of Figure 7, with parts removed,illustrating the progressive positions assumed by the elements of thestepby-step mechanism in dotted lines'.

The embodiment of this invention illustrated includes a rectangularcabinet I open at the top and provided with a rectangular closure 2which may be secured thereto in any desired manner, as by a ldependingflange 3 engaging the inner walls, of the cabinet. VThe top of theclosure 2 is provided with a circular opening concentric with verticalaxis oi the cabinet, which opening terminates in a depending annularflange 4. The bottom of the rectangular closure includes a plate 5having a plurality of perforations of sufficient size for the passage ofa bottle therethrough. The perforations are arranged in three circularrows with the outer peripheries of the outer row of perforations 6arranged in line with the inner circumference of the annular ange 4 ofthe top closure 2. An intermediate row of perforations 'i is arrangedupon equally spaced-apart centers between every other pair ofperforations of the outer row, and an inner row ofperforations Si isformed upon equally spaced-apart centers on each side of theperforations forming the intermediate row, as shown in dotted lines inFigure 1. The relation and purpose of the three rows of perforationswill be hereinafter explained.

The means for successively allowing of the removal of a bottle from thecabinet is contained within a cylindrical dispenser turn-table 9concentric with the opening in the top of the closure 2. The circulartop I of the rotatable turntable 9 is provided with an upstanding flangeIl adapted to slidably engage the inner surface of the depending ange 4of the circular opening of the closure 2 to position the casing. Thebottom I2 of the turn-table is provided with a central cylindricalperforated bearing member I3 adapted to rotatably engage a stud I4mounted upon the perforated plate whereby the cylindrical tum-table isrotatably mounted and closes the circular opening in the top of theclosure 2.

'Ihe bottles to be dispensed are supported upon a shelf I5 within thecabinet I with their tops adjacent the under side of the rectangularperforated plate 5, and are arranged in a bottle rack or containerscomposed of circular discs I6 having a plurality of perforationsarranged in circular rows, supported by studs IIa and secured to theshelf I5 to lie directly below each perforation in each of the threerows in the plate 5.

vThe bottom I2 of the rotatable cylindrical turntable mounted in theclosure 2 is provided with a radial opening I1 extending from the outerpe-A riphery of the outer row of perforations to the inner periphery ofthe inner row of perforations 8 and of a width equal to the ldiameter ofsaid perforations in the plate 5. The circular top III tatableturn-table is in the position shown in Figure 4, the opening I1completely uncovers one perforation 6 of the outer row on plate 5, whilethe bottom I2 of the rotatable turn-table 9 partially covers theadjacent perforation 1 in the intermediate row and the adjacentperforations 8 in the inner row, so that the bottle below theperforation 6 may be withdrawn from the cabinet while the others arecovered or partially covered by the rotatable turn-table. If astep-by-step movement is imparted to the rotatable turntable, thecontiguous perforation 1 to the right in the intermediate row will becompletely uncovered while the adjacent perforations inthe outer andinner rows will be partially covered, as shown in dotted lines in Figure4, and upon the next step of the movement to the right, the contiguousperforation 6 in the outer row will be completely uncovered, while theadjacent perforations'in the other rows will be partially covered, asshown in dotted lines in Figure 4, and upon the next step in themovement, the contiguous perforations 8 in the inner row will beuncovered while the adjacent perforations in the outer intermediate rowswill be partially covered. This cycle repeats itself upon continuedrotation in the same direction.

From the above description it is seen that by the arrangement of theperforations 6, 1 and 8 in the plate 5 of the closure 2 and by impartinga continuous step-by-step movement to the rotatable turn-table containedin the closure thereabove, 'the bottles may be successively removed fromthe cabinet through the opening l1 in the closure, It is to be noted inthis arrangement that two bottles in the outer row are removed to everyone in the intermediate row and inner row. If desired, the opening I1and beveled walls I8 may be provided with a spring-pressed' cover I9,preferably hinged at one side as shown in Figure l. This is especiallydesirable when the cabinet contains ice'or other bottle-cooling medium,and in such an event it is preferable to provide the rotatableturn-table 9 with insulation material 20 between the top I6 and bottomI2 thereof, as shown in Figure 3. A step-by-step movement, hereinafterto be described, is arranged to advance the opening I1 of the closure touncover the bottles as hereinafter described. It is desirable to preventfurther rotation of the rotatable turn-table of the closure 2 after thelast bottle has been removed, and to accomplish this, one perforation 6of the outer row is omitted in plate 5 and as the opening I1 passes overthis continuous solid portion 2| in uncovering the last bottle in theinner row, the plate 5 will coact with means forming a part of thestep-by-step movement to lock the mechanism against further movement.

The step-by-step movement is mounted in a casing 22 and is provided witha reciprocating slide 23 having an outstanding dog or lug 24 at one endthereof adapted to engage and disengage equally spaced-apart apertures25 in the vcylindrical sides of the turn-table 9, as shown in dottedlines'in Figures 3 to 8 inclusive. The casing 22 passes through-anaperture provided therefor in the top of the closure I and is securedupon the perforated plate 5 and the bottom of the casing 22 1s securedto a rectangular base 26 tangential to the circumference of therotatable turn-table 9. The reciprocating slide 23 is pivoted at one endupon a stud 21 which is mounted to reciprocate .in a slot 28 larrangedlongitudinally in the base 26. The length of this slot 28 is such thatwhen the slide 23 is at one end of its movement with the dog 24 inengagement with the slot 25 in the rotatable turn-table 9, as shown inFigures 4 and 5, it will allow the slide, when the dog 24 has beenremoved from engagement with the turn-table, to becaused to travel tothe right a suflicient distance to allow the dog 24 to engage the nextaperture 25 to the right, as shown in dotted lines in Figure 7. Theslide 23 is provided with'an upstanding post 29 in approximatetransverse alignment with the dog 24. A spring 38 anchored at one end tothe stud 21 engagesthe post 29 and normally exerts a pressure to retractthe dog 24 from engagement with the turn-table 9. In order to withdrawthe dog 24 of the slide 28 from engagement with the turn-table 9 asshown in Figure 7, reciprocate the slide 23 to the other end of itsmovement and allow the dog 24 to engage the next aperture 25 in theturn-table 9, and then impart the next step of the step-by-step movementto the turn-table 9, an operating disc 3l is mounted upon an operatingshaft 32 extending through the casing 22 to engage an operating lever 33provided with an operating handle 34, as shown in Figures 4 to 8,inclusive. The operating disc 3| is provided with a projecting stop 35adapted to engage the post 29 when the slide 23 is at the end of itsmovement, as shown in Figures 5 and 6, when the operating handle 34 hasrotated the operating shaft 32 to the end of its movement to the right.The operating disc is provided with another projecting stop 36 adaptedupon rotation of the handle 34 to the left to engage the other side ofthe post 29, as the handle 34 is rotated to the left to reciprocate theslide to the other end of its movement, as shown in dotted lines inFigure 8, when the handle 34 has reached the end of its movement to theleft. The operating disc 3i is cut away between the stops 35 and 36 onthe arc of a circle concentric with the disc and its edge is providedwith an arcuate fiange 3l projecting in the same direction as the stopsand adapted to engage the adjacent side of the post 29 and rotate theslide 23 against the tension of the spring 3i) to cause the dog 2li toenter an aperture 25 in the turn-table 3, as shown in Figure 6, andmaintain its engagement therewith. To allow the dog 24 to be retractedfrom engagement with the turn-table 9, the flange 31 is terminated shortof the stop 36 so that when the disc 3i has been rotated to the left. asshown in full lines in Figure 8, the post 29 is freed from contact withthe flange 31 and the pressure of the spring 30 will move the post 29 tobe in the path of the stop 36, and at the same time Withdraw the dog 24so that further .rotation of the disc to the left will move the slide 23to the right end of its reciprocatory movement, so that as the handle 34is again rotated to the right, the flange 3,1 will engage the post 29and cause the dog 24 to engage within the aperture 25 in the rotatableturn-table 9 and upon continuing the rotation of the handle 34 to theend of its travel in that direction the slide 23 will be reciprocatedand impartone step in the movement to the turn-table 9. This cycle isrepeated to impart tii'e step-by-step movement to the casdog 2d willlock the casing while the latch 38 is reciprocated to impart a rotationstep to the tum-table 9 at the end of its movement, as shown in Figure5. The latch 38 is provided with a. spring 4| secured at one end to thepost 39 with its free end in engagement with the body of the latchopposite the lug 40 `to normally urge the lug against the side of theturn-table 9 and enter an aperture 25 when aligned therewith. To freethe latch 38, the slide 23 is provided with a prolongation 42 extendingfrom the rear of the post 29 and a suilicient distance in the directionof the latch 38, so that when the slide 23 has been withdrawn fromengagement with the turn-table and moved in the direction of the latch3S, the under side of the projectionl 42 will engage over the portion ofthe latch extending in that direction from its pivotal point. The rearof the projection 12 is provided with a curved surface d3 adapted toengage the free end of a leaf-spring i i4 bent back upon itself andsecured to a lug d5 extending upward from the. base 26, so that as themovement of the slide 23 continues, the prolongation 52 travels betweenthe spring M and latch 38, and as the pressure of the` spring tdincreases as it travels up the curved surface e3, the dog 4B of thelatch 38 will be completely withdrawn from engagement with theturn-table 9 as the'slide 23 reaches the end of its movement in thatdirection. As the slide 23 reaches the'end of its movement toward theright, the dog 2d is brought opposite the next aperture 25 in theturn-table 9 at the same time the lug di! of the latch 38 is withdrawnand the pressure of the leaf-spring llt causes the ,end of theprolongation t2 to rotate the latch about its pivotal point to cause thedog 2t to engage the registering aperture 25, as shown in dotted linesin Figure '1. When the operating handle is rotated in the oppositedirection, the flange 3l upon the operating disc 3i engages the post 22and holds the dog 241 in engagement with the turn-table 9, so that theremoved, and whenthe stop :it engages the post 29 to impart a movementto the slide, the withdrawal of the prolongation 42 frees the latch. 3Bso that it will ride over the wall of the turn-table Si until oppositethe next aperture 2 5 is reached as the slide, 22 reaches the other endof its-travel to again lock the turn-table against rotation. A

After the last bottle has been removed from the perforation il in theinner row of bottles, the further rotation of the turn-table d isprevented by an additional mechanism. a bell-crank lever is pivotallymounted at its apex Se upon the upper end of a post d'5 extendingupwardly from the base 26 within tine casing 22, as shown in Figure 6.The upper arm t2 oi the bell-crank lever is provided with a stop d@adapted upon rotation to enter the path ci the stop 36 upon theoperating disc 3l, as shown in dotted lines in Figure 8, and prevent thestop 36 from. engaging the post 2t to reciprocate the slide 23 tolimpart the next step-by-step movement ofthe turn-table El. The end ofthe other arm' 5&3 oi the bell-crank lever is connected by the pivotedlink l passing through the plate t to one end oi a cross-head 52pivotably mounted at its center upon a bracket 53 secured upon the underside ci the plate d. The other end of the cross-head 52 pivotally mountsa pin ed, the free end of which is adapted to pass through an aperture55 provided therefor in the plate 5 to normally engage the under side ofthe bottom plate I2 of the turn-table 2 and t0 hold the bell-crank leverwith its stop 49 out of the path of the stop 36, as shown in Figure 6. Aspring 56 secured at one end to the pivotal point of the cross-head 52exerts an upward pressure upon the ,free end of the pin 54. Aperforation or aperture 51 is provided in the solid portion 2l of thebase plate I2 formed by the omission of the perforation 5. As the lastbottle in the inner row is uncovered, the aperture 57 is brought 1nregister with the end of the pin 54, so that the spring 5E will operatethe cross-head 52 to rotate the bell-crank lever through the link 5l tobring the stop 49 into the path of the stop 36 of the operating disc, asshown in dotted lines in Figure 8. When the closure 2 s removed from thecabinet l to refill, the lpin 5t is manually withdrawn and the mechanismoperated to the-next step which normally would uncover the omittedperforation 6 in the outer row, and when replaced over 'the filledcabinet the adjacent perforations 'l and 8 will be partially covered bythe casing 9.

It is desirable to have a dispensing apparatus of this characterprovided with a coin-controlled mechanism preventing the operation ofthe stepby-step mechanism until after the deposit of a coin for thelpurchase of a bottle of the beverage contained within the cabinet. Therear of the casing 22 is therefore provided with a coin-controlledmechanism of commercial form mounted within a casing 58 through whichthe operating shaft 32 passes. This coin-controlled mechanism may be ofanyforrn desired which will operate upon the deposit of a coin in theslot 59 to either free the operating lever 3i for manual operation orconnect the operating lever 3i with the operating shaft 32 upon manualoperation to reciprocate the step-by-step movement as the coin passesthrough the mechanism, as indicated in dotted lines in Figure 8. Thisparticular coincontrolled mechanism forms no part of this invention andas above said may be oi any typedesired.

What I claim is:

A bottle dispensing apparatus including a cabinet, means for supportinga plurality of bottles therein in concentric circular inner, outer andintermediate rows, said means adapted to support the bottles of saidintermediate row between ever other pair ot bottles of said outer rowand to support the bottles `of said inner row between each pair ofbottles of said intermediate row, a cover therefor including astationary plate and a turntable rotatably mounted thereon andthereover, said plate being provided with a plurality of perforations ofsubstantially the size and shape of the greatest cross section of saidbottles and arranged in alignment thereabove, said turntable having aradial opening therein of a width approximating the greatest crosssection of a bottle and of a length to register with the outer limits ofthe rows'of perforations, and means for imparting a movement to saidturntable to uncover one bottle at a time successively from the outerrow, the intermediate row, the outer row and the inner row.

